More people left for work earlier and spent longer periods commuting in 2000 than in 1990, the report found. That's somewhat dated information now. There are some interesting and hopeful signs in the report, too.

Among them:

The unexpected growth in immigration significantly impacted our commutes and might be responsible for reversing a long decline in carpooling. Hispanics are twice as likely as non-Hispanics to carpool (23 percent versus 11 percent). "Transit also enjoys a huge market among this group," the report said.

Americans don't walk to work anymore. "Perhaps the most significant trend," the report says, "is the sharp decline in walking to about half its share in 1980."